Prudhoe slimmers up for national award

Posted by The Journal on Jan 12, 09 12:27 PM in Clubs/Societies

As most people try to save pounds, these two super-slimmers are shedding theirs.

Mandy Brooks (pictured left) and Jacqueline Newton started the new year in great shape after losing 11 stone between them.

Mandy Brooks and Jacqueline Newton

The determined pair shed 5st 7lbs each after joining Slimming World classes in Prudhoe and have now been put forward to win £1,000 in a national slimming competition.

Delighted Jacqueline, 38, of Milton Grove, Prudhoe, dropped four dress sizes after deciding she wanted to slim down for a holiday.

The mum-of-one, now a size 18, puts her dieting success down to the slimming classes and the support of her family and friends.

Jacqueline, who works at Hexham Hospital, said: "I have tried losing weight in the past but I just got to the stage last year when I thought to myself, 'You know, you really are fat and you need to do something about it'.

"We had booked a holiday in the Maldives and Sri Lanka and I desperately wanted to lose weight for that.

"The weight actually came off a lot easier than I thought.

"I feel great now. It's odd thinking I have lost more weight than what my little boy weighs. In fact, he says to me now, 'Mummy, you used to be fat, not you're not'.

"I think things have become a lot easier for me since the weight came off.

"I remember going shopping for new clothes because my old ones were too big. I went into a shoe shop and bought a pair of boots.

"I took a picture and texted my friend - I've never been able to buy them from normal high-street shops because my calves were too fat."

Mum-of-four Mandy, of Stocksfield, Northumberland, is now down to a slender size 10 and weighs a healthy 10st 10lbs.

The 46-year-old now argues with her two daughters about whose jeans are whose and said she regrets not losing the weight in her 30s.

Mandy, who is self-employed and co-owns her company Powerjet with her husband, said: "I was in denial for a while about my weight and then eventually I decided to lose it and keep it off, mainly for health reasons. Also, my son is getting married this summer and I want to be slim for that.

"It's great starting the year like I am now - I feel very optimistic. I want to lose a couple more pounds and then that's it.

"My husband doesn't want me to lose any more than that and, to be honest, if I did I would probably start to look thin in the face."

Having both won Miss Slinky awards with their slimming club, the re-shaped pair are now looking forward to going through to the national competition, which awards slimmers who have reshaped their figures.

Co-ordinator of their slimming group Becky Guimaraes said: "They've done so well, I'm proud of them both."

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